We have been examining our spiritual wellness in regards to serving God and this our final lesson in the series is asking the question “How well do you Love?” Jesus taught the two greatest commandments of the Law spoke of love two ways. 1. To love God – (Matt. 22:34-38) and 2. to love your neighbor – (Matt. 22:39-40). Love is without a doubt, a major theme throughout the whole Bible, and Jesus taught many things related to love. So in this lesson we ask the question, “How Well Do You Love?” and begin with understanding that there are different kinds of love.

People today thrive on instant gratification we have learned to be impatient—we just don’t like to wait for things. Whether it’s a video that just won’t buffer, we lose our patience when we aren’t granted the instant gratification we desire. We can’t live without our Keurig instant coffee, our high-speed internet, and cell phones of which the millennial generation especially struggles with this, because they have grown up in a world filled with technology that caters to and sustains that desire. All these technological advances have robbed many of us of our patience—and literally decreased our ability to withstand waiting. Now in this 5th chapter of James, he turns to the issue of patience—with the idea that we are serving God—the journey may be long—but we are to establish ourselves—preparing ourselves for the journey. Understanding that James is not talking about controlling yourself at the grocery store when the line is long or behind the wheel when the car in front of you is driving slower than you want to go. Rather James is looking at the Christian’s ability to endure suffering—and the afflictions and the difficulties of life.

Have you read, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [a]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). When it comes to giving many people are misinformed because of inaccurate information that is taught in denominational churches across the land and throughout the world. Many still impose the “tithe” which is no longer applicable in the New Testament church that Christ built. Many still are given weekly envelops with a dollar amount on them, which the giver is obligated to pay. Some, have a system of increasing yearly the amount each member “owes”. All this is sinful, and if that is what “your church” is doing–you are in the wrong church. 

Don’t mistake me, proper giving is a blessing and it is of great importance. It is commanded of the members of the body, the church and is to be collected only on the first day of the week  (1 Cor. 16:1-2). In this lesson we will examine the three types of givers, and then how, when and with what attitude the child of God should have. We will also consider some different ways a Christian can give over and above the collection on the Lord’s day. 

How much do you have? If you live in this country, and work, you likely have more than you need. But is having sinful? James answers that question in the 5th chapter of his book written to the twelve tribes where he says, “2 Your riches [a]are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days” (James 5:2-3). We know that physically riches and possessions are inanimate objects—not alive—no soul—no spirit and therefore they cannot in themselves be sin, but the questions James answers is: What does make our riches and possessions become sin to us? Where is the line drawn between righteousness and unrighteousness as it pertains to what we possess? At what point should we begin to “weep and howl” (v.1) so that we don’t allow what we have to become sin and cause us to loose our souls?

salm 100 says, “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, [a]all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” (Psa.100:1-2). One of the greatest joys God’s people have is “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). When we ask “How Well Do You Sing”, the question is NOT do you have a good voice, it is not do you sing with perfect pitch? No rather the question is do you sing with understanding (Psa. 47:7; 1 Cor. 14:15)? Do you sing so that others may praise you or do you sing to praise God? In this lesson we continue examination of our own spiritual wellness with intent of growing in spirit and truth. David wrote, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Psa. 34:1-3). Singing is something that Jesus did…

It should be obvious that pride is a destructive character attribute. John called it the  “pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”  (1 John 2:16). Jesus told His disciples that what “comes out of a man, that defiles a man…from within, out of the heart of men”, and included pride concluding with verse 23, “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23). In this lesson from James describes three characteristics of pride namely, Speaking Evil “of one another” and “the law”, 2. Putting yourself in the place of the Only One Lawgiver “Judge”, and 3. The Pride of Control. Once the child of God can recognize them they can expel them. James ends with,  “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). 

What would you do? We are living through a pandemic called COVID-19 has caused, in our time, an unprecedented cost. No only to life but also to our way of life. What would you do to stop it. What would you pay for the cure? And let’s not focus only on COVID-19, what about cancer? How many people do you know that have died from cancer? What would you do, what would you be willing to do or pay to end cancer? What would you do to obtain the cure for cancer, for heart disease, for liver failure, kidney failure or dementia. All these are a result of sin, not my sin or your sin, but the sin that entered the world and caused death (Gen. 2:16-17), the expulsion from the garden (Gen 3:22-24) .

We cannot eliminate diseases, but here James will offer us 4 spiritual ways that Christians can take to eliminate spiritual adultery and eliminate spiritual death.  “Therefore submit to God. . . “

In this second lesson from James 4 James continued in verse two to further explain why these members are at odds with one another. He said, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [b]war. . .” (James 4:2a). You lust, you murder? Is James saying that the early saints are murdering one another literally? Not at all. Just as he used strong language in verse one, he does so here. There are terrible consequences to the souls of others and our own when we lust and cannot have, when we war and fight with selfishness in our hearts. The truth is that when our focus is on self, others are often victims.  Precious souls can be made to stumble when all we care about is self. Jesus warned against this kind of faith. . .

If we have Wars and Fights among us it is because we are Not Living According to the Spirit of Truth, because we don’t put others above ourselves—considering their needs—their situations—we just think about our needs. James says, that is not the way of truth, not the way of Godliness.

I want to emphasize the force behind the terms James chose. They should generate terror in your minds at the thought of discourse – at the thought of brethren fighting. Because James wants us to connect the dots…see the destructive power, the devastation that wars produce and connect that to ourselves and the devastation to us and the church that results from refusing to humble ourselves.

Our spiritual lives like our physical lives occasionally need examination. You see your doctor an he checks your temperature, your blood levels, your color, and weight amid a dozen other things to ascertain the condition of your overall well-being. Afterward the doctor may recommend medication, life-style changes or send you on your way with his stamp of approval. Spiritually, we also need regular examinations. The doctor is our Lord Jesus Christ and the examination is simply a comparison of your life, and the word of God. Areas where we are weak in the faith are shored-up by applying the teachings of God via the New Testament. One test of our spiritual well-being is our prayer life, or lack of. Not a complex lesson, but an important one for certain.